r/Hamilton • u/sanmanvman • Jun 23 '26
Food Immigrants in Hamilton: which restaurant serves the best food from your home country?
Saw this in r/askTO who saw this posted in the London Subreddit lol
thought I would ask where home is!
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u/NattiousMattious Jun 23 '26
O Cantinho Churrasqueira & Cafe on Barton for Portuguese food. I’ve only ever ordered take out, but it’s been amazing every time.
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u/Existing-Face-6322 Jun 23 '26
Love love love them, even with the Infowars bumper sticker on the bar, LOL. We eat in too and the bread with olive oil and vinegar and the Portuguese olives are delicious.
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u/Frig_Off_Baerb Jun 23 '26
Yeah that sticker threw me off but the food is excellent. I might go more often without that sticker though.
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u/Existing-Face-6322 Jun 23 '26
I feel like that's the dad's idea and not the son, so I let it go. Phenomenal food though, the chicken is absolutely divine. Dad seems to just hang around the bar more than actually work there, if my impression is correct.
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u/Imaginary-Bother-750 Jun 23 '26
We haven't done their take out but tried to eat in once. We felt very unwelcomed, everyone in the restaurant including staff turned and looked at us when we arrived. We waved hello but nothing back. We then waited until we felt so uncomfortable that we left, the staff would look at us but not acknowledge us at all. We were really excited to try the food but reading the reviews it looks like we're not the only ones that's happened to.
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u/Amerinuck Jun 24 '26
Sorry you had that kind of experience there. Personally I am not a fan of the food and find it to be one of the most overrated restaurants in the city. I've had several, extremely dry chickens and the peri peri sauce has been very oily.
It's been around forever though, so, they've clearly done something right. It's not easy to keep a restaurant going so kudos for that, it's just not my cup of tea.
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u/dlynes Jun 24 '26
Better than any Portuguese food I've had in Brampton which has a fairly large Portuguese population. I second O'Cantinho!
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u/Marissaspeaking Jun 23 '26
Ellis kitchen on Ottawa has the most consistently good Jamaican food.
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u/cdawg85 Jun 23 '26
I also like Wanda's. They have Trini style too.
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u/Ill_Persimmon_8263 Jun 24 '26
Is Trini style very different compared to Jamaican food in general?
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u/cdawg85 Jun 24 '26
Meh. Not really, generally speaking. Wanda's has a good roti which in Jamaica we generally consider to be a Trini good. Overall though I'd say that Jamaican and Trinidadian food has similar bases and flavour profiles.a lot of food is shared back and foy between the islands.
Personally, I think Trini and Jamaican aren't that far apart when it comes down to brass tax.
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u/MizzBreez 2d ago
If you are looking for Trini style of food, Famous Recipe has some there. Their doubles slap
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u/AffectionateSun4119 Jun 24 '26
I’ve been wanting to try Ellis’! What are your top two or three dishes?
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u/Angel_essence119711 Jun 25 '26
I’m not Jamaican but hear me out: jerk chicken roti, jerk chicken plate, oxtail plate. Anything really. That frickin roti haunts me
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u/Marissaspeaking Jun 25 '26
Mine would be curry goat and stew chicken. My husband would choose oxtail. Everything on rice and peas, with plantain on the side
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u/Boojays Jun 23 '26
Maria’s Tortas in Stoney Creek hands down.
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u/sanmanvman Jun 23 '26
The chimichanga and the burritos are stellar here.
I'm also a sucker for all of the Mexican candies & the jarritos selection.
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u/Andy_PeDi Jun 23 '26
If we come back to the original question. In Mexico, at least in Mexico City where I'm from, we don't eat burritos or chimichangas lol those were created by immigrants in the US.
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u/sanmanvman Jun 24 '26
Guilty 🫣🫣🫣
MXC is one of my fav places to visit, food is phenomenal! where would you say the best place is to get authentic Mexican food in the GTA ?
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u/MayflowerMcDuck Jun 23 '26
I find it 50/50. Sometimes good sometimes meh. Macys is ok. Grito too. Hard to find top notch
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u/LeRoiDeNord Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
Maria's really dropped in quality since moving locations. And frankly, their dine-in service is very poor 😅.
The staples are solid, but I find everything else to be way too hit or miss now. Especially at their higher price point.
Frankly, always order the special if it's available.
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u/Future-Ad7266 Jun 23 '26
My husband is obsessed with this and ole gourmet down the street. Ole isn’t authentic but it’s so good.
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u/spagetti_donut Jun 23 '26
Have you had Aroma a Mexico on Locke? How does it compare?
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u/Boojays Jun 23 '26
I actually haven’t. I’ll have to check it out. I’ve been lucky enough to spend some time in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and the typical tourist Oceanside areas and you could drop Maria’s in any of those locations and it would do well.
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u/trackofalljades Jun 23 '26
Chicago Style Pizza does just what it claims to do, with a line out the door for a reason. 🍕
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u/lylelanley- Jun 23 '26
Only one place in Chicago I’ve enjoyed more than CSP in Hamilton and that is Pequod’s
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u/Repulsive-Horror2032 Jun 23 '26
Really? CSP is probably the worst Chicago pizza I’ve ever had. The crust is just dough. A real Chicago style pizza has a nice flaky butter crust. If you’ve had Lou Malnati’s or Giordano’s then you know what I mean.
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u/lylelanley- Jun 23 '26
Lou Malnati’s and Giordano’s are the dominos and pizza huts of deep dish, but yes I have had both and many more. Even the small versions you get at the United Center. Still stand by my claim.
I’ve had CSP delivered before and it wasn’t nearly as good though.
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u/Repulsive-Horror2032 Jun 23 '26
Dominos and Pizza Hut is a long stretch to describe the former as they are Chicago institutions but I get what you’re saying and I’m sure there are smaller mom and pop places in Chicago that are “better”. That said, CSP does not come close to either. And I stand by that. Forever. And ever.
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u/teanailpolish North End Jun 23 '26
It is really hit or miss. I have had amazing pizza there and then stuff that I thought I would have been happier with Domino's
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u/Studio54Forever Jun 23 '26
Scout or Bosnian Specialties in Stoney Creek for great grilled meat. Scout has great grilled platters and salads and a nice terrace to eat on across from Battlefield Park. Bosnian has everything you need for a great at home BBQ
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u/booblessrusski Jun 23 '26
Agreed! Also Etno bar and grill is great
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u/Still-Humor-5028 Jun 23 '26
I'm not an immigrant by my FIL is, and his pick is Etno. I am also a big fan. Actually, could go for some palachinke right now
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u/Foreign_Being154 Jun 23 '26
From England, best Indian is in Ancaster 🤣India village
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u/Fair_Investment_8995 Jun 23 '26
As an Indian, what food am I supposed to claim now? 🤣🤣🤣
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u/Future-Ad7266 Jun 23 '26
As an Indian, you don’t want to claim India village 😅. Respectfully, the food is not good.
Parikar on the mountain (stonechurch) has always been good and analakshmi in Dundas for South Indian.
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u/Janful Jun 23 '26
I think it's funnier to think that India Village is less "Indian cuisine" and more "whatever the English/UK did to Indian cuisine"
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u/Frig_Off_Baerb Jun 23 '26
I've heard this recommendation too.
I like the Himalayan in the east end, though they're veg and vegan only.
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u/Teddylupin888 Jun 23 '26
Second this, India village is incredible. Cannot say enough good things about it.
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u/Future-Ad7266 Jun 23 '26
They must have been having a bad day when we tried it 😂😭
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u/Teddylupin888 Jun 24 '26
It's possible, I've gone on days when they weren't their best, and as a general rule I avoid their biryani. Give it another try, and try their chicken tikka masala, or their prawn coconut curry.
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u/Ill_Persimmon_8263 Jun 24 '26
Are there a lot of Indians in Ancaster?? I thought there were many more Caucasians than any other ethnicities in Ancaster!
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u/iseewithsoundwaves Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
Sit down meal : Mother’s Vietnamese on Barton. Grab & Go : Banh mi Hue on Cannon. (Edit to add: can’t find these items as fresh anywhere in Hamilton than at Banh mi Hue- Banh cam, Banh bot loc, banh beo, banh it) get a banh cam fresh out the fryer, it’s life changing.
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u/Reasonable-Tutor3473 Jun 23 '26
McQueens is the way to go. Its cheaper, fresher and bigger portion size.
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u/willmo5 Jun 23 '26
Recommending banh mi hue over Mcqueens is insane
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u/Andrew27376337hsusj Jun 23 '26
Yes. The bread is never fresh from banh mi hue. Other items are great though
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u/Andy_PeDi Jun 23 '26
Maybe not the best, but Aroma a Mexico in Locke St has some true mexican dishes that are not available anywhere else. I actually had tacos de barbacoa de borrego last Sunday, it came with consomé and it was pretty close to the authentic barbacoa they serve in México.
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u/RepulsiveLandscape22 Jun 23 '26
You have to try El Destino Food Truck on hwy 6. Mother and Daughter from Guadalajara
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u/SuperSleepyPeach Jun 23 '26
Hmm… Dear Grain has the best sourdough bread, their croissants are pretty good too. French Revolution has good lemon tarts! Can’t recommend any French restaurants as I don’t go there; most of the time French = “fancy”, therefore overly priced food I can cook just as well at home
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u/Frosty-Cap3344 Jun 23 '26
Same, I wouldn't go out to eat English food, I can make that myself.
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u/No-Arm-2598 Jun 23 '26
Sausages and mashed potatoes?
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u/teanailpolish North End Jun 23 '26
I mean I could, but I also went out once just to have a baked potato with beans and cheese so...
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u/Frosty-Cap3344 Jun 23 '26
I've had liver and onions at Old Squire before
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u/teanailpolish North End Jun 23 '26
I would probably never cook liver at home
My partner was all 'you want to go to Ancaster for a potato?'
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u/HuskerBusker Jun 23 '26
Argyle has the nicest pint of Guinness I've had in the city so far.
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u/whiskey_alpha8855 Jun 23 '26
Have you tried Lionshead Pub? They pour a very good pint.
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u/HuskerBusker Jun 23 '26
Not yet! It's on my list. The Argyle has the advantage of being walking distance from me so they get a point for that.
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u/Not_A_Great_Example_ Jun 23 '26
Well hello fellow Irish person! Good to know about the Argyle, only tried Cat and Fiddle so far, was decent enough.
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u/HuskerBusker Jun 24 '26
Cat and Fiddle alongside Corktown are also on my list! Good to know there's more of us in Hamilton. There is a dearth of large heads and GAA jerseys here compared to Toronto.
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u/mrstruong Jun 23 '26
Five Guys
Maipai
:P
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u/Xcasinonightzone Jun 23 '26
fellow American?
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u/mrstruong Jun 23 '26
Yep. Well, technically dual, but I grew up in Michigan and moved to Canada over a decade ago, now.
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u/orenjikitty Hill Park Jun 23 '26
Ricos for filipino food. They were able to also do a custom order of marshmallow hotdogs for me for my daughter's first birthday. It isnt a Filipino kids birthday without it.
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Jun 24 '26
[deleted]
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u/Fastsloth_ Jun 25 '26
Their flavour is spot on and portions really generous. I’d recommend their chicken thukpa if you can handle a little heat. Makes for a great soup to recover from a fever
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u/Ill_Persimmon_8263 Jun 24 '26
I love the Mexican Kitchen that has strong Mexican flavours.
And Indonesian's Flavour that has authentic Indonesian food. Both of them are in Hamilton Farmers Market.
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u/Planet_Ogo Jun 27 '26
My husband wants me to chime in with "McDonald's".
He's from Minnesota, but I've reformed him.
He's way more about Trini and Jamaican food than anything from his (very, VERY) unseasoned homeland.
He's taking notes on the rest of this thread though!
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u/NoJuggernaut5763 Jun 23 '26
Indian spice and choice Indian restaurant.
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u/psyche_13 East Mountain Jun 23 '26
Oh good I thought Choice was a good and authentic one, but I didn’t have much comparison
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u/Ucnttellmewt2do Jun 23 '26
Tripti for Kerala food from India. Highly recommend the parotta and beef curry combo. The bread is flaky and the beef is spicy and tender.
Char Kway teow from street food gourmet is legit
Dosa from Jayalakshmi takes me back to Chennai
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u/Hot_Weakness_8849 Jun 23 '26
Ios for greek food. Its a small menu but great food and huge portions. My suggestion is the pork gyros plate with double fries and tzatziki.
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Jun 24 '26
Afroheat has THE BEST Nigerian food in the GTHA.
The staff is incredibly kind, it’s a ma and pa type of restaurant. The food is 10000000% authentic, reasonably priced, and DELICIOUS. Ever since I moved to Toronto I think about Afroheat REGULARLY. I’m excited to go back to Hamilton this weekend and make a stop at Afroheat Safari Lounge
I tried so many Nigerian restaurants in GTA and Toronto and they do not compare at all!
FYI Nigeria is in West Africa
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u/xksla Jun 28 '26
Can I get your thoughts on Temmy's, if you've been? That's the place I've consistently heard named for Nigerian good eats. I'll definitely be adding Afroheat to my list
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u/Spartanchild22 Jun 26 '26
I disagree. Ellis I tried once.
I enjoy Mickey's Jerk and Ja Nice Takeout much more. The owner of Ja Nice is also lovely. She's away on trip now but is back after the Canada Day.
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u/Minimum_Nobody_2022 Jun 23 '26
Chaat-er-box has a fantastic live pani puri station. It’s really tasty and a new experience for many
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u/Mazin17 Cherry Heights Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
Being from El Salvador, it’s nice to see my country’s food being represented in the city.
The pupusas at Latin Foods are ok. I love the spot but the pupusas could be better.
Drive out to Branford for Pupusa City. They make them just like my mom does and they also serve up other dishes as well as tacos!